BAIT FISHING. Ill 



4. Bait Fishing. 



Bait fishing, though not a fashionable mode of angling, is one 

 by no means to be despised, and a great deal of the unmeritted 

 disrepute into which it has fallen, is owing more to the narrow 

 minded prejudices of those who have never practised it, than to 

 any defect of this branch of the art. One of the principal causes 

 of its unpopularity is the mistaken supposition, that it requires no 

 skill, and wants the charm that active exercise produces. But no- 

 thing can be moreerroneous than both these suppositions; there being 

 no kind of angling that requires a greater portion of skill, or 

 more ground to be travelled over to follow it up. But the fact is 

 it is not fashionable, and consequently little followed or understood 

 except by a few cunning old anglers who keep the secret to them- 

 selves, and profit by it accordingly. 



As this sort of fishing is carried on principally with worms, I 

 purpose first to say a word or two about them, as also the most 

 approved method of preparing them for use. The best worm for 

 angling for trout, take it for all in all, is the lobworm, which is of 

 a dull cast, and of a dark slate colour about the head; but if two 

 worms are put on, then the garden worms, which are small worms 

 of somewhat a flesh colour cast, inclining to pink above the knot, 

 are preferable. Walton however gives a preference to a red worm 

 called the squirrel tail, from that part being broader and flatter in 

 proportion than in any other kind of worm. There are also seve- 

 ral other kinds of red worms, some large, and some small ; some 

 wilh a knot, and some without ; all of which when scoured will do 

 very well. Nor must I pass over the brandling, which is a very 

 high flavoured morsel, and an excellent bait in a clear water, and 

 which is distinguished by the bright yellow rings at the joints, and 

 also from emitting a yellow fluid that has a peculiar effluvia, doubt- 

 less very fragrant to the olfactory nerves of the fishes, whatever it 

 may be to our own. And there is also the gilt tail, distinguished by 

 the yellow tag at the tail, but one that I do not think stands very 

 high in the estimation of the trout, or of those who are in the ha- 

 bit of angling for him. Cotton however expresses an opinion that 

 the sort of worm is not very material, and adds that it must be 

 tuch a worm as he never yet saw that a trout will refuse if he be 

 in the humour to bite. But with all due deference to so respecta- 



